Valve’s new Steam Controller has flaws, but I’m still buying one
▼ Summary
– The reviewer found the Steam Controller’s seamless customization and layout transfer from the Steam Deck made it feel like holding the Deck itself, changing their couch gaming habits.
– Custom layouts created on the Steam Deck automatically transfer to the Controller, and vice versa, allowing for personalized controls that load with each game.
– The Controller features a USB-C puck for low-latency 2.4GHz connection and charging, Bluetooth, and a color-changing LED to indicate connection modes.
– The reviewer disliked the uncomfortable trackpad position and the lack of a headphone jack, noting the USB-C port does not support audio.
– Despite the $99 price and minor drawbacks, the reviewer plans to buy one due to its superior customization and seamless integration with the Steam Deck.
After a brief hands-on session with Valve’s new Steam Controller last year, I declared it might be my dream controller. I’ve long sought a gamepad that matches the customization and sheer functionality of the Steam Deck while gaming on the TV. Many of you have been waiting for this too. Now, after spending over two weeks with the final hardware, I can confirm it’s already reshaping my home gaming habits.
Previously, I defaulted to the Steam Deck handheld for couch gaming because of its ergonomic comfort. But the new Steam Controller has me docking my Deck to play on the TV, as it feels even better in hand. I’ve logged hours crafting ridiculous combos in Vampire Crawlers, blasting bots in Pragmata, and fending off zombies in Resident Evil 2. For any game, I can remap every button or input to my liking, creating entirely new layouts that auto-load when I launch a title.
Better still, layouts created for the Steam Deck transfer instantly to the Controller’s identical button positions, and vice versa. They even work when you bring the gamepad to a friend’s PC. My colleague Cameron Faulkner has more on how the customization goes beyond any other controller on the market.
That said, not everything is perfect. The trackpad placement didn’t work well for me , my thumbs ached after extended use as a mouse. But these quibbles won’t stop me from dropping $99 on Monday, May 4th to order one for myself.
Everything clicked when I habitually pressed the R4 back button, and the Controller immediately took a screenshot , the same shortcut I’d set on my Steam Deck. When all my other fine-tuned controls carried over seamlessly, I realized just how useful a first-party Valve controller could be. Normally, docking the Deck and using a wireless gamepad means settling for lesser controls. With the Steam Controller, it’s as if I’m still holding the Deck: every button is exactly where I expect it, endlessly customizable, with my muscle memory intact.
The hardware itself is impressive. Like the Deck, my fingers settle naturally around the grips, and both joysticks and buttons are comfortable. Nothing rattles when shaken. The D-pad feels more solid, and the new Steam and Quick Access buttons are satisfyingly clicky. Quick Access is especially handy for adjusting volume mid-game. The rumble is crisper than my 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless, though Sony’s DualSense haptics remain superior.
Setup is straightforward. You plug in a USB-C puck that establishes a low-latency 2.4GHz connection (it magnetically attaches to the controller for charging with a satisfying snap). Alternatively, use Bluetooth or a USB-C cable for simultaneous play and charging. The tiny color-changing LED at the top indicates modes: white for 2.4GHz, blue for Bluetooth, and red during updates. The Controller also plays a Deck-like chime when powering on and off.
Valve claims over 35 hours of battery life, and the puck’s convenience means I haven’t stressed about charging. Some prefer AA batteries since rechargeables degrade, but the removable battery is easily replaced, and Valve says it’s working with companies like iFixit for future replacements.
Sitting about 12 feet from the puck under my TV, I noticed no discernible latency difference between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, even in timing-sensitive games like Hollow Knight: Silksong. Any errors were skill issues, not controller ones. Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais notes that Bluetooth weaknesses only become apparent with multiple simultaneous controllers or when downloading games on PCs where the Bluetooth antenna doubles as a Wi-Fi antenna.
A new feature, Grip Sense, uses capacitive sensors on each grip to function as buttons. These can be mapped to anything, though activation requires a full grip. It works great for gyro controls but was touchy as a trigger substitute in Resident Evil 2.
The trackpads were mostly a letdown. They’re uncomfortable for extended mouse use, causing thumb strain. While the right trackpad offered finer control in Resident Evil 2, I prefer the joystick for aiming. I did use them in Vampire Crawlers to hover over info I couldn’t access with gamepad controls, and they’re handy for desktop navigation. But like the Steam Deck, I won’t use them for mouse-based games for hours.
I also wish the Controller had a headphone jack, like the DualSense and Switch Pro Controller. USB-C headphones plugged into the top port don’t work for audio, which is disappointing.
Because the Steam Machine and Steam Frame aren’t available yet (and we don’t know their pricing or exact release beyond “this year”), I haven’t reviewed the Controller with those devices. I also only have one unit, so I couldn’t test multiple Controllers connected to a single puck (though you can connect four per puck).
Still, the Steam Controller is very nearly my dream controller. At $99, it’s expensive, especially when I already own several gamepads. But none have the same magic. The extra perks , seamless customization, muscle memory transfer, and solid hardware , are enough for me to buy one for myself.
(Source: The Verge)
